Wringer with upsweep reset handle



March 30, 1943. N. L. ETTEN $314,973

wnmGER WITH UPSWEEP RESETYYHANDLE Filed Nov. 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H W I March 30, 1943. -ETTEN 2,314,973

' WRINGER WITH UPSWEEP RESET HANDLE Filed No v. 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZE'QK 51 lib f P/ 4 March so, 1943. N.'L. E TT,E N 2,314,973 I WRINGER WITH UPSWEEP RESET ANDLE Filed Nov. 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 zzveizzazf [Zzbfiofas J lz' ieza March 30,1943. N. L. ET'TEN- WRINGER WITH UPSWEEP RESET HANDLE Filed Nov. 27, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 g 1 Q. m w mm \lm m v WM 1 m... g a I a 9 (v w? W I I J 55 I w w g j Z n u /||||,I1|l|||||u I. Q MM 5 5 Mw 6 4 z a y w March 30,1943. N. L. ETTEN 314,973

WRINGER WITH UPSWEEP RESET HANDLE Filed Ndv. 27, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Patented Mar. 39, 1943 UNETED STATES TNT OFFIC Claims.

This invention relates to clothes wringers and more particularly to an improved wringer reset device for establishing initial operating pressure between the rolls of the wringer after theemergency release mechanism of the wringer has been actuated. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide a clothes wringer with a reset lever adapted to stand in vertical position during the operation of the wringer and pivoted at its lower end in order that the wringer pressure spring may be reset by arcuate movement of the lever in an upward direction.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a wringer structur wherein the reset lever is mounted on a pivot point solidly fixed with respect to a stationary wringer frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wringer having a main frame and a separable top frame with latching means and a pressure reset lever of such design and construction that the actuation of the pressure reset lever alone will move the cooperating latch members toward each other and interlock these latch members While the wringer top frame remains in a position somewhat spaced apart from the main frame of the wringer; and wherein the return movement of the pressure reset lever will be effective to draw the separable top frame downwardly into normal operating relationship with the main frame.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a wringer attractive in design, dependable in operation, and economical in manufacture.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings includes the conventional main frame and separable top frame provided with suitable release bars effective to release the latch mechanisms securing these frames in operating position in order to release the operating pressure between the rolls. This device is distinguished from the prior art structures, however, by virtue of the fact that the operation of the wringer reset devices has been greatly simplified and the wringer may be reset by the single act of swinging the reset lever downwardly about a fixed pivot point and then returning this lever upwardly to its original position. This mode of operation is in sharp contrast with the operation of the prior art structures known to the applicant, in most of which it is necessary to manually manipulate the entire top head of the wringer to engage latch mechanisms at one end, to manually manipulate cerbeing shown broken away to more clearly illustrate the wringer mechanism; 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan section through the wringer top frame, taken substantially on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through one of the vertical bearing slideways of the wringer and is taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; v V

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the wringer latch mechanism and is taken substantially on the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View through the wringer reset lever and associated latch mechanisms illustrating the wringer rolls in released position; 5 r Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the resetting operation of the wringer;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective view of the wringer latch and cooperating mechanisms; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch slide. The wringer chosen for purposes of illustration of the present invention comprises in general a lower roll l0 and an upper roll H mounted in vertical bearing slideways carried by the lower frame l2 of the wringer structure. Thewringer is preferably provided with a mounting sleeve [3 which may be telescoped into a cooperating mounting column such as is customarily provided on modern washing machines. The rolls Ill and II are adapted to be power driven in either forward or reverse direction, controlled by the operation of a gear shift 14 adapted to control a conventional reversing gearassembly housed within the end portion l5 of the lower wringer frame. A separable top frame or cross head It is latched to the main frame 12 and is provided with a pressure adjusting screw l'l adapted to bear at the approximate center point of a flat pressure spring l8 extending between the movable upper roll bearings [9 in which the upperroll II is jourprovided at? the extreme t commonly known in the prior art, and since they do not constitute the essence of the present invention, they will, therefore, not be described in greater detail in this application.

The structure of the release and reset mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention includes a reset lever 2| pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 22 rigidly secured in a pivot pin bracket 23 secured adjacent the lower end of the vertical bearing slideway 24 of the main wringer frame l2. An operating link 25 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 26 extending between opposed side flanges formed on thereset lever 2| and extends downwardly from thepivot pin 26 to a similar pivot pin 21 mounted on the vertical latch slide 28. By referenceto the drawings it will be seen that each of the operating parts of the reset mechanism is formed in a somewhat channel-shaped cross section, each'including' "a pair of" opposed 's'ide 'fla'nges through which-the pivot pins penetrate, joinedbyanin- 'termediate "body portion formed' integrally with the side'fianges. This constructioni's -preferred since it is capable of economical manufacture and provides" 'a"'ru'gged "structure "capable of standing'g'reat abuse, butit is not "essential to the practice of'theprinciples of this invention; The bearing slide 28' is positioned inside of a channel-shaped vertical bearing slideway'24, but the side flanges 29 extend outwar ly througha pair of slots'forhie'diin' the end'wanss of thebearing' slidewayend are provided with a pairof perforations 31 to accommodate thepivot pin 21 on which the peratmg imk" 25 is pivoted." {The flanges 299T thwrticalilatch slide 28"are also provided with 'a"p air qrj erroratmps 38 in which a latch pivot piif- 3'9 is ihountedi The latch arse comprises fiat bodyporition 4 2' extending betweentwo' opposed side'flan'g es aag-"eacn of which is perforated at '44 in 'ordeffto Torin apivotal mounting for the latch on'the' latch pivot pin "39. A triangular latch engaging block 45 is welded tdthe extreme 'flbpeFendof thelatch 4! toprovideitw6 angular surfacesf lfi and "41 to guide'the latch"in-totengagingposition and to engage the cboperating latch mechanism as will" be more my set' fdrth hereinafter, and a positioningstop is providedat the lowr lend fth'e latch 4| to limitth e pivotal movement of the latch 4 l ab out the pin 39. "i

A vertically extending locking lug 4 8 is also of'the latch 4|, and onedibetwee'n a pair this locki'nglug' it is'pds offlirfiiting stopsf l il formed atrightjanglestothe lug These latch 'me iiapisms are adapted to operatively en gage a t'o'p latch 5| welded inside of the top lframe'or brosshead'lBf The tbplla t ch 5] includes an angularlyinclinedsurface 52 which will be'engaged the'anguiar" surface 46 of the triangular 'latching 7 block" '4 5 to guide the latch 4| into engaging position andan angular surface' 53 which will co actw iththe angular surface j4-1 of the triangular latch bar to retain the 'top frame 16in operating position. "The an gular'finclination of' the surfaces 53 and is 'suc'h'tl'iatthe force exertedby the'pressur spring "lfl'wou'ld cause thern to disengage unless additional 'l'atchlocling mechanisms" are" provided. From this'it will'be understood that the latching surfaces and 5:3 formanunstable latchwhich will'iel'ea'se unless the separa tionof these latching. surfaces is pie venteu byasqomi'qr auxiliary latchc'oi i'i pris'ing in the present structure an annaled. The structures thus far described are between a pair of latch releasing arms 55 pivoted inside of the top frame It on a pair of rivets 51 mounted in the opposed side walls of the top frame.

In normal position the latch member 55 rests lightly upon the two limit stops 49 and is thus held in position to be engaged by the lug 48 to prevent the latch from becoming disengaged from the latch 5|. The emergency release bars 6|, positioned on each side of the top frame I6 of the wringer, are pivotally mounted on rivets 62 and are provided with trigger portions 63 ex- ;tending into the wringer top frame l6 through thetwo suitable punched openings 64 to a position immediately" below and co-acting with lugs 65 formed on each of the opposed arms 56.

The arrangement is such that whenever either of the emergency release bars 6| is manually actuated, the release bar will pivot around the rivets '62 'tomove the trigger portion 63 upwardly into engagement withfthe lug 65 and lift'the arms iiisufliciently to'cause the angular latch member tor-diserigage the lug 48"onthe' latch 4|: This will-cause the latch' 4| to be released from the latch 5|: since'the angular relationships "of the surfaces 41 and 53 is such that the latch is unstable and the pressuree'xert'ed by the pressure spring |;8will act upwardly on the top frame'to exert a-camming action between these surfaces sulii'cient 'topivot the" latch 4| about the'pin 39 .and'against the relatively light tension exerted by the spring "68. When thus released the 'top frame IE will move upwardly sufliciently to release the spring pressure exerted between the rolls and sufficientlytoallow the rolls'to separate'to any degree necessary to relieve the pressure on any bodypositionedwithin the bite of these 'rolls. When there 'is no object betwee'nthe rolls; howeverg-thevv'eightof the top "frame 1 6 will cause this frame'toswing downwardly aboutthe pivot pin 68 until its movement is limited 'by engagement with the flatpressure spring I82 At this time since there is no pressure exerted to cause flexing-of the' pressure spring; the top frame IE will be held-in spaced apart relationship with the main 'frame 12-, but the"pivotpin' 68 will control theinovement' of the top frame sufficiently that the latching member 51 will'be'in 'a position substantially directly above" the' position it assumes during the'operationof'the'wfinger.

At this point it should be noted that the pivot pin 68'is' mounted on'the extreme (and of the por- 'tion" I5 of the lower frame IZjand is thus quite accomplished iniprior art by structuresin' which "gui 'ny shape d'latching' member 55' extending the top head was pivoted at a point so close to one of the bearings that the mere weight of the top frame exerted considerable pressure and prevented complete release of one end of the upper roll;

To reset the wringer it is unnecessary for the operator'to touch the top frame of the wringer in any way, nor is it necessary to manually manipulate any latching 'mechanisms. The resetting of the device is accomplished by simplyswinging the reset lever 2| downwardly about the pivot point 22 and then upwardlyinto its original posi- "f I .7 1' \LI On the downward stroke the lever 2| actsto move the lower latch mechanism directly'up- 'wardly on the slide heretofore described; until the cooperating latch members engage and interlock, and on the upward stroke of the lever the top member I6 is drawn downwardly toward the frame I2 to compress the flat pressure spring l8 and apply the initial pressure between the wringer rolls. In this connection it should be pointed out that certain important advantages are gained by pivoting the reset lever on a stationary pivot at the lower end of the lever. These advantages arise from the fact that modern power-operated wringers are operated at relatively high speeds and must be provided with a correspondingly high initial operating pressure to insure satisfactory wringing. The prior art structures known'to the applicant have been objectionable in that they have been difiicult of operation, particularly in cases where the operator is a woman of small stature or of limited physical strength. For one thing, the downward swing of the customary type of reset lever is awkward for a person of small stature to operate. This is overcome in the present device since the upsweep of the lever illustrated permits even a child to exert considerable force, since the operator may in'fact brace herself against the floor and push upwardly; whereas, with downwardly swinging devices, the operator has no means of bracing herself. A further advantage is gained in the present structure by providing an absolutely solid pivot point for the lever as contrasted with a shaky or unsteady pivotal mounting, as for example, a pivot affixed to a releasable head or top frame.

The detailed operation of the wringer mechanism is as follows: When the operator swings the reset lever downwardly about the pivot 22, the operating link 25 will act between the pivots 26 and 21 to move the latch slide 28 upwardly along the inner Wall of the bearing slideway 24. The latch 4|, which is carried by pin 39 aifixed to the bearing slide 28, and maintained in fixed position by the spring 6t and the stop 40, will move upwardly toward the latch and as the angular surface 46 engages the angular surface 52, the latch 4| will pivot slightly about the pin 39 and continue its upward movement until the angular surface 47 has come into full engagement with the angular surface 53. As this position is reached the latch 4| will return to its original position under tension exerted by the coil spring 65, and

the lug 48 will lock the latch assembly in engagement. It will be appreciated that as the reset lever 2| is swung downwardly and the latch 4| moves up, the lug 48 will contact the lower surface of the latch member and lift it upwardly. However, when the lug 48 moves to the leftthe angular latch member 55 will drop downwardly under the influence of gravity and come to rest on the stop portions 49 formed on the top of the latch 4| to lock the latch 4| in full locking engagement with the top latch 5|.

The operator will now swing the reset lever upwardly to normal operating position, and as this is done the operating link 25 will act between the pivot points 25 and 21 to draw the-latch slide 28 and the latch 4| bodily downward a sufiicient amount to return the top frame to its original operating position. This movement will, of course, compress the spring l8 and apply operating pressure between the rolls, but since the pivot point 26 moves beyond the dead center line established through the pivot points 22 and 21, the pressure will not cause the reset lever 2| to spring outwardly, but instead will retain this lever in vertical position at the end of the wringer frame.

F From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a wringer structure in which a releasable top head 'of a wringer may be automatically engaged,

.the patent statutes, I am aware that it is subject to numerous alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited except as by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wringer comprising a pair of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and a pair of relatively movable frame structures comprising a stationary frame and a relatively movable frame normally urged apart into spaced relationship by the pressure spring and adapted to be secured together in operating position to compress the pressure spring and apply operating pressure between the pressure rolls, the combination of cooperating latch mechanisms associated with each of said frames adjacent one end of said frames, positioning means comprising a pivotal connection between said frames at the end remote from said latch mechanisms to position said frames and latch mechanisms in predetermined spacedapart relationship, a reset lever pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot on said stationary frame, means comprising a link and shiftable latch support interconnecting said reset lever and one of said latch mechanisms to shift said latch mechanism with respect to its associated frame, means responsive to said shifting movement to. guide said latch mechanism into interlocking engagement with the cooperating latch mechanism, and spring means to cause said latch mechanisms to interlock.

2. In a wringer comprising a pair of pressure rolls, a pressure spring, and a .pair of'relatively movable frame structures comprising a stationary frame and a relatively movable frame normally urged apart into spaced relationship by the pressure spring and adapted to be secured togather in operating position to compress the pressure spring and apply operating pressure between the pressure rolls, the combination of .cooperating latch mechanisms associated with each of said frames, positioning means to position said frames and latch mechanisms in predetermined spaced-apart relationship, a reset leverpivotally mounted on said stationary frame, means comprising a link and shiftable latch support interconnecting said reset lever and one of said latch mechanisms to shift said latch mechanism with respect to its associated frame, means responsive to said shifting movement to guide said latch mechanism into interlocking engagement with the cooperating .latch mechanism, and spring means to cause said latch mechanisms to interlock.

3. In a wringer comprising a stationary lower main frame, a top frame relatively movable with respect to said main frame, a pressure spring and a plurality of pressure rolls, the combination of a stationary reset lever pivot fixedly associated with said main frame at right angles to the axis of said pressure rolls, a manually operable reset levermounted on, said pivot. andadapted .to extend vertically. i'n' vvaii-dly frqmj saidtpivotl adjacent the end of said mainframe,.amovable,latch support associated with saidmain frameQan operating member interconnecting said latch-support and said reset lever whereby said latch support may be shifted responsive to the operation of saidreset lever, latch means carried by said latch support, a latch member carried by said top frame, and positioning means for said top frame 'to positions and latch meansand latch member in predetermined spaced apart relationship.

4. In a'w ringer comprising, a stationary lower main frame, a top frame relatively movable with respect to said main frame, a pressure spring and a, plurality of pressure rolls, the combination of a stationary reset lever pivot fixedly associated ried by said top frame, and means responsive to the shifting movement of said first named latch means to guide said latch means into interlocking position whilesaid frame members remain in spaced-apart relationship.

5. In a wringer comprising a stationary lower main frame comprising spaced-apart vertical bear ing slides and a longitudinal member interconnecting said slides, a top frame extending between said bearing slides and relatively movable with respect to said main frame, a pressure spring and a plurality of pressure rolls,-the combination of a stationary reset lever pivot fixedly associated with said main frame at right angles to the axis of said pressure rolls, a manually operable reset lever mounted on said pivotand adapted to freely swing arcuately outwardly and downwardly from the end of the wringer frame and to be reset against the resistance of the pressure spring by manual movement upwardly and in a direction directly towardthe point of support of the Wringer frame; top and bottom latch mechanisms associated with said top and main frames respectively, and means responsive to the operation of 'said reset lever to move said latch mechanisms toward each other, to guide said .latch mechanisms into interlocking engagement while said frames remain inspaced-apart relationship, and to :move said frames into operating position against the resistance of the pressure spring.

6. In a wringer comprising a stationary lower .main frame, comprising spaced-apart vertical caring slides and a longitudinal member interconnecting said slides, a top frame extending between said bearing slides and relatively movable withrespect tosaidmain frame, a pressure spring and .9 plurality, of pressure rolls, the combination of a stationary reset lever pivot fixedly associated with said main frame, "a manually operable reset lever mounted on said pivot and adapted ,to freely swing arcuately outwardly and downwardly from the end of the wringer frame and to be reset against the resistance of the pressure spring by manual movement in an arcuate 11pward path; top and bottom latch mechanisms associated with said top and main frames respecas eep tively, and mcans responsive-to the operation of said i reset lever to move-said latching mechanisms toward each other, to guidesaidlatch tnechanisms into interlocking engagement while .with each of said frames adjacent one end, and

a shiftable member. connecting said cooperating latch means with the manual reset lever and link whereby the top frame maybe moved to a fixed position uponthelower frame with pres- ,sure upon therolls .by an upward arcuate movement of the manual reset lever.

8. In a wringer, comprising a, lower frame, a top frame relatively movable with respect to said main frame, pressure rolls, and a pressure spring; the combination of amanually-operable toggle reset lever pivoted on said lower frame and adapted to extend verticallyupward adjacent the end of said frame, a toggle link pivoted to said reset lever, cooperating latch mechanisms associated with each of said frames adjacent one end, a shiftable member connecting said cooperating latch means with the manual reset lever and link whereby the top frame may be moved to a fixed position upon the lower frame with pressure upon the rolls by an upward arcuate movement of the manual reset lever, and a manuallyoperated safety mechanism for quickly releasing the cooperating latches to permit upward move ment of the top frame and release of pressure.

9. In a wringer, comprising a' lower frame, a top frame lpivotally supported over the lower frame atone end-formovementto a position on the lower frame in normal operating position and detached therefrom when released under pressure, pressure rolls in the lower frame, and a pressure spring; the combination of manuallyoperable toggle reset mechanism pivoted on said lower frame, cooperating latch mechanisms associated with each of said frames, and a shiftable memlber connecting said cooperating latch means with the said manually-operable toggle reset mechanism whereby the top frame may be moved to a fixed position-upon the lower frame with pressure upon the rolls by an upward arc-uate movement of the lever.

10. In a wringer, comprising a lower frame, a top frame pivotally supported over the lower frame at one end for movement to a position on the lower frame in normal operating position and detached therefrom when released under pressure, pressure rolls in the lower frame, and a pressure spring; the combination of cooperating latch mechanisms associated with each of said frames adjacent their opposite ends, a shiftable member, and manually-operable toggle reset mechanism .pivoted on the lower frame and coacting with said latch mechanisms by interaction of the shiftable member to move the top frame to a fixed position upon the lower frame with pressure upon the rolls.

, NICHOLAS L. ETTEN. 

